It's true that forking over 20 dollars to sit and have someone talk at you for an hour and fifteen minutes is tough to bring yourself to do. But that doesn't mean it's tough to justify. I don't know either of the authors of the 1st two posts but i'm probably not overstepping my bounds in assuming that, at one time or another, they've spent at least that much money on a CD, a book, a dinner or a couple of movie tickets. Now compare the net gain of insight into the political realities facing us today garnered from a brilliant lecturer and author like Dr. Coldicott with the perpetuation of myths and stereo types handed down to us in virtualy all other forms of media. If your the kind of person who cares enough to be pissed about the ticket price of political lectures in the first place then certainly you're the kind of person who can consider it money well spent. I agree, it would be nice if it were free. maybe it should be. maybe there are people who are shamelessly making a buck off of it but isn't that secondary to the real issue??? isn't the real issue the missuse of a volitile source of energy and the proliferation of the deadliest invention in the history of human kind? I for one will fork over the money- if i must, then so be it- not to miss something that can change my life, help me become a more responsible citizen and consumer, and do what i can to make the world a safer place.